Modular valve body and method of making

ABSTRACT

A modular valve body includes, a tubular defining an inner bore extending longitudinally therethrough and the tubular has standardized fittings at both ends that are connectable to a drillstring or tubing. The body further has a first surface disposed at the tubular that is in fluidic communication with the inner bore by at least one port, the first surface is receptive to any one of a plurality of selectable modular valves mountable thereat, and a second surface disposed at the tubular is receptive to a circuit configurable to control the selected one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application contains subject matter related to the subject matter of co-pending applications, which are assigned to the same assignee as this application, Baker Hughes Incorporated of Houston, Tex. The below listed applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety:

U.S. Patent Application Attorney Docket No. 274-49267-US, entitled TUBULAR VALVE SYSTEM AND METHOD; and

U.S. Patent Application Attorney Docket No. 274-49268-US, entitled TUBULAR VALVING SYSTEM AND METHOD.

BACKGROUND

A variety of valves have been developed to control fluidic access between an inner bore of a tubular and an outside of the tubular, such as, tubulars that are positionable within a wellbore for recovery of hydrocarbons, for example. These valves each have specific characteristics designed to enable the valve to achieve the specific purposes for which the valve is intended. The proliferation of such valves can add to costs associated with operating a well. For example, a well operator who decides to maintain an inventory of each of the valves deployed to facilitate quick repair or replacement of a valve when needed, will encounter at least the cost for each valve held in inventory. Devices and method that would reduce costs associated with such an inventory would be well received by downhole operators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein is a modular valve body. The body includes, a tubular defining an inner bore extending longitudinally therethrough and the tubular has standardized fittings at both ends that are connectable to a drillstring or tubing. The body further has a first surface disposed at the tubular that is in fluidic communication with the inner bore by at least one port, the first surface is receptive to any one of a plurality of selectable modular valves mountable thereat, and a second surface disposed at the tubular is receptive to a circuit configurable to control the selected one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.

Further disclosed herein is a method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing. The method includes, coupling one of a plurality of modular valve bodies within a drillstring or tubing, anchoring a selected modular valve to the modular valve body, fluidically coupling the selected modular valve to at least one port fluidically connecting an inner bore of the modular valve body to an outside of the modular valve body, mounting a control circuit to the modular valve body, and functionally connecting the control circuit to the selected modular valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a modular valve body disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an alternate modular valve body disclosed herein with a modular valve positioned in operable communication therewith;

FIG. 3 depicts a partial cross sectional view of the modular valve body and modular valve of FIG. 2 taken at arrows 3-3;

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a modular valve body disclosed herein;

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a modular valve body disclosed herein;

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a modular valve body disclosed herein; and

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of yet another alternate embodiment of a modular valve body disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, two embodiments of modular valve bodies disclosed herein are illustrated generally at 10 and 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, with differences between the two being elaborated on with reference to FIG. 4 below. Both of the modular valve bodies 10, 12 include, a tubular 14 defining an inner bore 18 that extends longitudinally therethrough, with standardized fittings 22 on both ends thereof for attachment of the modular valve bodies 10,12 within a drillstring or tubing (not shown). The modular valve bodies 10, 12 include a first surface 26 that is in fluidic communication with the inner bore 18 via at least one port 30 (FIG. 1), with two ports 30A and 30B being illustrated in this embodiment. The first surface 26 is receptive to a modular valve 34 (FIG. 2) selectable from a plurality of modular valves configured to be mountable to the modular valve bodies 10, 12. At least one second surface 38, illustrated herein as being longitudinally offset from the first surface 26, is receptive to an electrical circuit 42 such as a control circuit for the modular valve 34.

The inner bore 18 is eccentric with respect to an outer perimetrical surface 46 of the tubular 14. This eccentricity allows the first surface 26 to be closer to an axis of the tubular 14 than would be possible had the inner bore 18 been concentric with the outer perimetrical surface 46. By being closer to the axis of the tubular 14 the first surface 26 permits mounting of modular valves 34 with a larger radial dimension 50. Additionally, the eccentricity permits optional walls 54A, 54B and 54C to extend from the first surface 26 a greater distance as well. The walls 54A and 54B in this embodiment extend perpendicular to the first surface 26 and parallel to the axis of the tubular 14 and intersect with the outer perimetrical surface 46 thereby forming a channel 58 therebetween. A width 62 of the channel 58 is selected to accommodate a width 66 of the modular valves 34 while still allowing enough height 70 of the walls 54A, 54B to protect the modular valve 34 positioned therebetween over its full radial dimension 50. The wall 54C is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the tubular 14 and also extends to intersect with the outer perimetrical surface 46. A hole 74 in the wall 54C is receptive to a portion (not shown) of the modular valve 34 to stabilize the modular valve 34 during actuation thereof. Additional stabilization or anchoring of the modular valve 34 to the tubular 14 is with fasteners (not shown) that fasten the modular valve 34 to the first surface 26 via holes 78, such as tapped holes, for example.

Referring to FIG. 3, the attachment of the modular valve 34 to the first surface 26 also aids in sealing the two components to one another. Seals 82, illustrated in this embodiment as o-rings, enhance the sealing further. Recesses 86, formed in the first surface 26, receptive to the seals 82 provide a means or positively locating the seals 82 prior to assembly and control an amount of compression of the seals 82 as well. The seals 82 seal the first surface 26 to the modular valve 34 around each of the two ports 30A, 30B. The port 30A is fluidically connectable to an outside 90 of the tubular 14 by a bore 94 in the modular valve 34. A valve stem 98 is movable within the modular valve 34 between, for example, positions that fully occlude the fluidic connection and positions that fully open the fluidic connection. The port 30B is illustrated herein as being in full open fluidic communication with the outside 90 via the bore 94 and port 102, although alternate embodiments could have the fluidic communication fully occluded by use of a modular valve 34 that does not include the port 102, for example. Additionally, a sleeve 104, positioned within the inner bore 18 could be shiftable between a position fully occluding the port 30B and a position leaving port 30B fully open.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the second surfaces 38 and the circuits 42 (not shown in FIG. 1) positioned thereat are clearly illustrated. Although two second surfaces 38 are depicted in this embodiment, alternate embodiments could have more or fewer second surfaces 38. The circuit 42 can be a control circuit for control of the modular valve 34, for example. Communication signals, power signals, or both, between the circuit 42 and the modular valve 34 can be via means such as, electrical, optical, hydraulic, other or combinations of two or more of these. Such communication can be routed through the hole 74 or through another port (not shown) that fluidically connects volumes defined between the first surface 26 and extension of the perimetrical surface 46 and the second surface 38 and extension of the perimetrical surface 46.

A sleeve 106 (shown herein as partially broken away) can surroundingly engage the tubular 14 on either longitudinal end of the area defined by the second surface 38 to thereby shield the circuit 42 from damage due to contact being made therewith. The sleeve 106 can also be sealingly engaged to the tubular 14 with the aid of seals 110, for example, to thereby protect the circuit 42 further from exposure to chemicals within which the modular valve bodies 10, 12 may be submerged.

A channel 114, illustrated herein as a hole bored through a portion of the tubular 14 defined between the first surface 26, the outer perimetrical surface 46 and the inner bore 18, is receptive of a signal carrier 118, such as a control line, for example. The signal carrier 118 can carry electrical signals, optical signals, hydraulic signals, and other signals or combinations of two or more of these. One or more auxiliary bores 120A, 120B can connect the channel 114 to either of the surfaces 26, 38 or to volumes defined thereby such that communication and/or power can be supplied to either or both of the circuit 42 and the modular valve 34 via the one or more auxiliary bores 120A, 120B.

Referring to FIG. 4, the modular valve body 12 discussed above with reference to FIG. 2 is illustrated herein without the modular valve 34 assembled thereto. The modular valve body 12 is similar to the modular valve body 10 with the only significant difference being a longitudinal length of the walls 54A and 54B. Wherein the walls 54A and 54B of body 10 only extend longitudinally to about a location where a housing 122 of the modular valve 34 begins as best seen in FIG. 2, the walls 54A and 54B of the body 12 extend all the way to an end 126 of the tubular 14. Extension of the walls 54A, 54B can be selected to provide added protection to portions of the modular valve 34 as deemed appropriate for the particular modular valves considered for usage in a particular application.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, two additional embodiments of modular valve bodies 210 and 212 are illustrated. Again the differences in these bodies 210, 212 from the bodies 10, 12 are in the lengths of the walls 54A and 54B. Body 210 has the wall 54B extending all the way to the end 126, while the wall 54A stops at a location near where a plunger 216 exits an actuator 220 of the modular valve 34. By contrast, the body 212 has no walls 54A or 54B at all extending from the surface 26.

Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of a modular valve body 310 is illustrated. A primary difference of this valve body 310 from the previous valve bodies 10, 12, 210 and 212, is a number of and configuration of channels 314 that are receptive to the signal carriers 118, for example. Wherein the previous embodiments included a single channel 114 illustrated as a cylindrical hole bored through the body 10, 12, 210 and 212, in the body 310 there are a plurality of channels 314, with two being illustrated. Additionally, the channels 314 are formed into a surface 318 of the body 310 such that the channels 314 are open to the surface 318 over at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the body 310. Further, the channels 314 are illustrated with three orthogonal walls 322; however, embodiments with alternate numbers of walls at alternate angles and shapes are also contemplated.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 

1. A modular valve body comprising: a tubular defining an inner bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the tubular having standardized fittings at both ends thereof that are connectable to a drillstring or tubing; a first surface disposed at the tubular being in fluidic communication with the inner bore by at least one port, the first surface being receptive to any one of a plurality of selectable modular valves mountable thereat; and at least one second surface disposed at the tubular receptive to a circuit, the circuit being configurable to control the selected one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.
 2. The modular valve body of claim 1, wherein the inner bore is eccentric relative to an outer perimetrical surface of the tubular.
 3. The modular valve body of claim 1, wherein the first surface and the at least one second surface are longitudinally offset from one another.
 4. The modular valve body of claim 1, further comprising at least one wall extending from the first surface in a direction away from the inner bore.
 5. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall is substantially perpendicular to the first surface.
 6. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall is two walls spaced apart to receive one of the plurality of selectable modular valves therebetween.
 7. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall intersects with an outer perimetrical surface of the tubular.
 8. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall is substantially parallel with an axis of the tubular.
 9. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the tubular.
 10. The modular valve body of claim 4, wherein the at least one wall includes at least one mounting feature receptive to a portion of one of the plurality of selectable modular valves.
 11. The modular valve body of claim 10, wherein the at least one mounting feature is a hole.
 12. The modular valve body of claim 1, further comprising one or more longitudinal channels through at least a portion of the modular valve body.
 13. The modular valve body of claim 12, wherein the one or more longitudinal channels are receptive to one or more signal carriers.
 14. The modular valve body of claim 12, further comprising at least one auxiliary bore fluidically connecting the longitudinal channel with a volume defined at least in part by at least one of the first surface and the at least one second surface.
 15. The modular valve body of claim 1, the tubular being receptive to a sleeve on either longitudinal side of the at least one second surface.
 16. The modular valve body of claim 15, wherein the tubular is sealable to the sleeve at both longitudinal sides of the at least one second surface.
 17. A method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing, comprising: coupling one of a plurality of modular valve bodies within a drillstring or tubing; anchoring a selected modular valve to the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies; fluidically coupling the selected modular valve to at least one port fluidically connecting an inner bore of the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies to an outside of the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies; mounting a control circuit to the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies; and functionally connecting the control circuit to the selected modular valve.
 18. The method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing of claim 17, further comprising shielding the selected modular valve within a channel on the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies.
 19. The method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing of claim 17, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of modular valves.
 20. The method of mounting a modular valve to a drillstring or tubing of claim 17, further comprising connecting the control circuit to the selected modular valve via a signal carrier mounted within the one of the plurality of modular valve bodies. 